No 10 to release hundreds of files on Mandelson's US ambassador appointment

"Sources said it had warned Starmer of the serious reputational risk of going ahead with Mandelson's appointment in December 2024 given his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Officials said the document could prove very difficult for the prime minister and warned that his response at the time reportedly asking former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, a friend of Mandelson, to seek and explanation from him about its contents could be seen as completely inadequate."

"The documents being released are the first batch of tens of thousands of files and are expected to contain information that was publicly available at the time, such as newspaper reports that showed the extent of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein. It will include correspondence between Cabinet Office, Downing Street and Foreign Office officials about Mandelson, who was sacked from his Washington role last September."

"Last month, MPs ordered the government to release thousands of documents relating to Mandelson's appointment after questions over how the peer was vetted. He was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in a public office after allegations that he leaked confidential information to the disgraced financier while serving as business secretary in Gordon Brown's cabinet."

Hundreds of documents regarding Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador are being released by Downing Street, beginning with a two-page Cabinet Office due diligence report. The report warned Prime Minister Keir Starmer of significant reputational risks associated with the appointment in December 2024, citing Mandelson's links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Officials indicated Starmer's response—asking Morgan McSweeney to seek explanation from Mandelson—was inadequate. The released documents will include publicly available information such as newspaper reports detailing Mandelson's relationship with Epstein, along with correspondence between Cabinet Office, Downing Street, and Foreign Office officials. Mandelson was removed from his Washington position in September and resigned from the Labour party and House of Lords in February following the release of Epstein files in the US.

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